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Is anybody else sick to death of the Walmart debate? The last 3 cities or towns I've lived in have all gone through the same 'Stop Walmart' campaigns. It seems like the well-to-do think it'll drive down the economy because the wages aren't great - but the people who are in that economic level are just happy to shop there with the lower prices. Just let nature take its course.

It's easy to let 'nature takes it's course' I think, but realistically, you can't see as clearly all of the people that a Walmart is not helping too. People who will lose their jobs in nearby stores because one big company can afford to sell things at a loss, at least in the beginning. In the end, you have to ask yourself this question: Are you willing to see a large chunk of the money money in Bend go to a out of state corporation, which you will never see a return on, or would you like to keep the money in Bend, where people can reinvest it and spend it freely. Short term it's easy to say Walmart will be great, after all, it will save people money. But long term, it will just crush any hope of building up the city, as the lower class' money will essentially be thrown away. It's like paying rent instead of owning. It's not all about what Walmart does to the rest of the world, it's about what it will do locally that matters most.

It will create jobs and lose them, but would you rather see everyone in our town as unique or would you like to walk down the street and see everyone in blue Walmart uniform?

I am a firm believer that government shouldnt get involved in people's lives. This can include alot of things. If you are asking a law to be pass that would somehow hinder a walmart being built I think that is a terrible thing to do. But if the people as a whole decide they won't shop there, then why would a walmart even want to build a store? Its all about personal responisbility.

Well I'm going with hoff on how the government can't think for us, we have control over our actions, but I do have to admit Walmart sure treats the employees (well in certain departments) fairly well. There's a Walmart being constructed even though there's 2 Walmart stores each just 15 miles away! Not only they are building the Walmart store, but they are building it in the middle of an already overpopulated street which is always bottlenecked its ridiculous!